Services

Smoke seen for miles after major barn blaze

FIREFIGHTERS tackled a barn blaze which destroyed hay, animal feed and a lorry.

Five fire engines from Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, Yeovil and Hamworthy tackled the fire at Church Farm in Martinstown earlier this afternoon.

Firefighters said the fire started accidentally in a HGV articulated lorry that was in the barn milling wheat.

The lorry was destroyed in the blaze.

No one was injured and no animals were harmed.

There was a barn of cows close to the location of the barn but they were fine.

Readers reported seeing smoke four miles away from the blaze.

Station manager Louis Minchella said crews were called at around 4.30pm and around 35 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze.

He said he could see the large column of black smoke before he even got in his car at headquarters in Poundbury.

He said: "On arrival there were two crews in attendance from Weymouth and Dorchester tackling either side of the fire."

The barn contained hay, diesel, animal feed and a small amount of fertiliser- as well as the HGV.

More crews were called and assisted and firefighters used water jets, CAFS foam and used breathing apparatus to tackle the fire.

The farmer had a static water tank the crews used too.

Station manager Minchella said: "Water was our main concern here and the contents of the farm- including the diesel and fertiliser."

Fire crews extinguished the blaze and stayed on scene damping down and doing a controlled burn of the hay in the barn.

Station manager Minchella said he was very pleased with the way the crews had worked in a remote location.

He said: "In a remote situation the crews have done very well to tackle the fire.

"The crews have worked very hard to bring the fire under control.

"The incident will be scaled down now and we will be allowing a controlled burn of the remaining hay in the barn."

He added that the cause of the fire was accidental.

He said: "It started in an HGV articulated lorry that was in the barn milling wheat."

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed this morning that the full extent of the damage included an agricultural HGV vehicle, hay, animal feed, bails of straw, fertiliser, 5,000 litres of diesel, five tonnes of soya and rape seed and 15 tonnes of wheat.

Fire crews return to the scene later today to check the area is safe and see if there is anything they can do to assist the farmer.

Comments

Witch Hazel
9:16pm Fri 20 Jun 14

Oh dear.... a great loss in more ways than one and a lot of hard work from the fire services.... but luckily no - one hurt and the animals safe. Expect everyone could do with a well earned pint with this hot weather!

Oh dear.... a great loss in more ways than one and a lot of hard work from the fire services.... but luckily no - one hurt and the animals safe. Expect everyone could do with a well earned pint with this hot weather!Witch Hazel

Oh dear.... a great loss in more ways than one and a lot of hard work from the fire services.... but luckily no - one hurt and the animals safe. Expect everyone could do with a well earned pint with this hot weather!

Score: 8

Mrjon1
5:27pm Fri 20 Jun 14

Can see the smoke from Weymouth currently

Can see the smoke from Weymouth currentlyMrjon1

Can see the smoke from Weymouth currently

Score: 2

AALLEEXX
6:16pm Fri 20 Jun 14

It was obviously Mance Rayder...

It was obviously Mance Rayder...AALLEEXX

It was obviously Mance Rayder...

Score: 0

saildorset
9:01pm Fri 20 Jun 14

Saw the smoke from National Coastwatch Station, Portland Bill. I must admit, due to the amount of smoke it looked a lot closer than Martinstown, thought initially nearer, perhaps Granby, Chickerell.

Saw the smoke from National Coastwatch Station, Portland Bill. I must admit, due to the amount of smoke it looked a lot closer than Martinstown, thought initially nearer, perhaps Granby, Chickerell.saildorset

Saw the smoke from National Coastwatch Station, Portland Bill. I must admit, due to the amount of smoke it looked a lot closer than Martinstown, thought initially nearer, perhaps Granby, Chickerell.

Score: -1

Zummerzet Lad
9:38pm Fri 20 Jun 14

How come Yeovil involved as a fair distance from Martinstown plus of course not part of Dorset Fire & Rescue

How come Yeovil involved as a fair distance from Martinstown plus of course not part of Dorset Fire & RescueZummerzet Lad

How come Yeovil involved as a fair distance from Martinstown plus of course not part of Dorset Fire & Rescue

Score: -5

Dorset Mitch
2:07pm Sat 21 Jun 14

Zummerzet Lad wrote…

How come Yeovil involved as a fair distance from Martinstown plus of course not part of Dorset Fire & Rescue

I expect yeovil are the nearest available water carrier (like a milk tanker, carries bulk amount of water)

[quote][p][bold]Zummerzet Lad[/bold] wrote:
How come Yeovil involved as a fair distance from Martinstown plus of course not part of Dorset Fire & Rescue[/p][/quote]I expect yeovil are the nearest available water carrier (like a milk tanker, carries bulk amount of water)Dorset Mitch

Zummerzet Lad wrote…

How come Yeovil involved as a fair distance from Martinstown plus of course not part of Dorset Fire & Rescue

I expect yeovil are the nearest available water carrier (like a milk tanker, carries bulk amount of water)

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